Mary Wilson, a founding member of The Supremes, has died at 76.
Her ongtime publicist, Jay Schwartz, confirmed the sad news.
Wilson died suddenly at her home in Henderson, Nevada. A cause of death has not been announced.
In 1959, Wilson formed the female singing group The Primettes in Detroit alongside Diana Ross, Florence Ballard and Betty McGlown. After McGlown left the group, the remaining ladies created the now-legendary group, The Supremes.
The Supremes were signed to Motown Records, where they scored 12 no. 1 singles, including their best-known hits, “Baby Love” and “Stop! In the Name of Love.”
“I was extremely shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of a major member of the Motown family, Mary Wilson of the Supreme,” said Berry Gordy in a statement Monday night.
“The Supremes were always known as the ‘sweethearts of Motown.’ Mary, along with Diana Ross and Florence Ballard, came to Motown in the early 1960s. After an unprecedented string of No. 1 hits, television and nightclub bookings, they opened doors for themselves, the other Motown acts, and many, many others. … I was always proud of Mary. She was quite a star in her own right and over the years continued to work hard to boost the legacy of the Supremes. Mary Wilson was extremely special to me. She was a trailblazer, a diva and will be deeply missed.”
The Supremes were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.
Funeral services for Wilson will be private due to COVID-19 restrictions.
